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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 236 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 236

 Recognizing the need to pursue research into the causes, a treatment, 
and an eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, supporting the 
 goals and ideals of National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness 
                     Week, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 13, 2005

 Mr. Coleman (for himself, Mr. Lugar, and Mr. Bingaman) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Recognizing the need to pursue research into the causes, a treatment, 
and an eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, supporting the 
 goals and ideals of National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness 
                     Week, and for other purposes.

Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a serious lung disorder causing 
        progressive, incurable lung scarring;
Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is one of about 200 disorders called 
        interstitial lung diseases;
Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is the most common form of interstitial 
        lung disease;
Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a debilitating and generally fatal 
        disease marked by progressive scarring of the lungs, causing an 
        irreversible loss of the lung tissue's ability to transport oxygen;
Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progresses quickly, often causing 
        disability or death within a few short years;
Whereas there is no proven cause of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis;
Whereas approximately 83,000 United States citizens have idiopathic pulmonary 
        fibrosis, and 31,000 new cases are diagnosed each year;
Whereas idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is often misdiagnosed or under diagnosed;
Whereas the median survival rate for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients is 2 
        to 3 years, and about two thirds of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis 
        patients die within 5 years; and
Whereas a need has been identified to increase awareness and detection of this 
        misdiagnosed and under diagnosed disorder: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That Congress--
            (1) recognizes the need to pursue research into the causes, 
        a treatment, and an eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary 
        fibrosis;
            (2) supports the work of the Coalition for Pulmonary 
        Fibrosis and its partner organizations for their great efforts 
        to educate, support, and provide hope for individuals who 
        suffer from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, including the work 
        of the Coalition to organize a national ``Idiopathic Pulmonary 
        Fibrosis Awareness Week'';
            (3) supports the designation of an appropriate week as 
        ``Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week'';
            (4) congratulates the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis for 
        its efforts to educate the public about idiopathic pulmonary 
        fibrosis, while funding research to help find a cure for this 
        disorder; and
            (5) supports the goals and ideals of a national 
        ``Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week''.
                                 <all>
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